Residents escape fire that destroys Gales Ferry home

Firefighters from the Ledyard and Gales Ferry Fire Departments, extinguish the smoldering remains of a home located at 12 Nutmeg Drive in Gales Ferry, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, destroyed in a structure fire which began last night around 11:30 p.m.Tim Martin/The DayBuy Photo

Ledyard — A 2 1/2-story house in Gales Ferry burned to the ground late Saturday night, but the three adults and a dog who were inside escaped without injury. A cat, however, perished.

Two young boys who also live there were not home at the time of the fire.

All that's left of the wood-framed house at 12 Nutmeg Drive is two pieces of a wall and a chimney, according to Fire Marshal Jim Mann.

The couple that lives in the house made it and called in the fire at 11:50 p.m. from their cell phone, Mann said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, he said.

One fire truck remains at the scene, Mann said, to wet down the pile of debris and keep it from restarting.

The house is located at the top of hill and there are no fire hydrants in the area, he said.

"We got up there. We had to do a lot of maneuvering,'' to bring tanker trucks and water to the scene.

The American Red Cross is assisting the family, which is staying with friends.

Firefighters from the Ledyard and Gales Ferry Fire Departments, extinguish the smoldering remains of a home located at 12 Nutmeg Drive in Gales Ferry, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, destroyed in a structure fire which began last night around 11:30 p.mTim Martin/The DayBuy Photo